2

FERDINAND BEYER
Elementary Method
for the Piano (Vorschule
Foreword
Im K lavierspiel ), Op.
101, by Ferdinand Beyer
(18031863), was published in 1860.Since that
time it has been used by
piano students throughout the world.When compared with piano
methods written in the 20th and 21st centuries,
it looks more like a technique book than a piano
method.This edition has been edited to be useful
for todays piano students either as a method (with
of teacher guidance) or as a supplementary book.

Beyer first introduces dynamics in No. 53.

Editoral dynamics have been added to pieces
prior to Beyers introduction.The first time
that a dynamic is added, its definition is
included on the page.In addition, dynamics
that make sense musically have been added to
examples 1106.

ABOUT THIS EDITION

Fingerings have been updated.Some fingerings that are not needed have been taken
away.Additional helpful fingerings have been
added.Beyer does change fingers on repeated
notes and these fingerings have been retained.

Since its initial publication, there have been

numerous editions of Beyer.Most of the editions
simply reprint the music in its original layout and
translate the text from German.In creating this
edition, the editors have made adjustments to be
more useful to todays students:
While the order of the music has not changed,
the layout has been expanded to be easier
to read.
Notation has been modernized.Some examples that were originally written on two treble
staves have been notated in treble and bass
clefs to promote reading skills.
For several pieces in the book, Beyer showed
hand positions on the staff.This edition adds
hand positions and keyboard charts to supplement those shown by Beyer.
Beyer pointed out several new concepts as they
are introduced in the text with minimal or no
explanation.Additional text has been added to
further explain the concepts.
Beyer included some technical tips and
practice suggestions.The language has
been modernized.

Beyer used c for common time in many exam4

ples.These have been changed to 4 since it is
used more frequently today.
Editorial tempo markings have been added
where Beyer omitted them.
Phrasing and articulation have been clarified
and made consistent between sections.

BEYERS ORIGINAL PREFACE

The purpose of this work is to provide beginners
with as easy an introduction as possible to the art
of playing the piano.
It is designed for children, even of the youngest
age, and the progression has been made as gradual
as possible within the limits of the work.An
exhaustive treatment of all the difficulties such
as ornaments does not lie within the scope of
this school.It is not intended to be more than an
elementary instruction guide to provide students
with material for practice during the first and
perhaps the second years of study.
There is a need for this kind of work for use by
musical parents to prepare their children for a
professional teacher.

ELEMENTS OF MUSIC
Staff

Lines

Spaces
2

Ledger Lines

w w w
w
w
w
w w w
w
w
w
w
& w ww ww ww ww
w w w

Treble or G Clef

w w w
w
w
w
? w ww w w
w w w w w

Bass or F Clef

w w w w w
w

Memorize the musical alphabet: C D E F G A B

Say the musical alphabet forward and backward.
Memorize the musical alphabet in thirds: CE, GB, DF, AC
Say the musical alphabet in thirds forward and backward.

w
w
w
w
w
w
w w
w
w
w
& w4 w w w w w w w w
w w w
w w
& 4
w
Notes on the
Five Lines

Notes on the
Four Spaces

w
w
w
w
w
w
w w
w w
w
B

Intervals
Notes on the

w
& w
Five Lines

2nd

w w

Notes on the
Four Spaces

3rd

w w

w w

Notes Above
and Below
the Staff

4th

w
w w

1 2 3 2

Notes on the
Ledger Lines

Notes Above and Below

the Ledger Lines

Notes Above
and Below
the Staff

Notes on the
Ledger Lines

5th

w w w

w w w
w
E

w
6th

w w
w
D

Notes Above and Below

the Ledger Lines

7th

8th
(octave)

VALUES OF NOTES AND RESTS

Whole Note and Whole Rest

2 Half Notes and Half Rest

4 Quarter Notes and Quarter Rest

8 Eighth Notes and Eighth Rest

4 Triplets

16 Sixteenth Notes and Sixteenth Rest

32 Thirty-second Notes and Thirty-second Rest

R R

64 Sixty-fourth Notes and Sixty-fourth Rest

R R
r
.

R R

Kr
.

R R

. . . . . .

&

Dot after a Rest

..
..
& J J
R

Two Dots after a Note

..
..
&

Two Dots after a Rest

Measures

Brace

j
ww . . . .
&
J J R

Dot after a Note

Bar
Line

Bar
Line

Bar
Line

TIME SIGNATURES

c
4
4
2
4

3
4
3
8

4
common time (same as 4 )

Simple Time

4 beats per measure

quarter note gets one count
2 beats per measure
quarter note gets one count

&

3 beats per measure

eighth note gets one count

Sharp

3 beats per measure

quarter note gets one count

ACCIDENTALS

Flat

? # # # # #
#

D D

F F

G G

&

A A

9 beats per measure

eighth note gets one count

b b
b

b b

Chromatic

C C

Natural

6 beats per measure

eighth note gets one count

Notes with Flats

# #
#

# #
C

Notes with Sharps

&

6
8
9
8

Compound Time

Triple Time

b b b
b b
B

G G

Enharmonic

&

b
b

# b # b b # #

C#
Db

M
I
D
D
L
E

D#
Eb

F#
Gb

E F b F E#

G#
Ab

A#
Bb

C#
Db

B Cb C B#

10

RIGHT HAND EXERCISES (for Touch)

Raise each finger exactly at the moment the next finger touches the keys.
First practice slowly with the fingers moving equally and firmly, but not too strong.
Avoid tension in the hand and arm, which can produce an unpleasant sound.
Repeat each example as directed by the teacher.

Memorize the exercises on pages 1017 and pages 168182.

4 w
1. & 4

2. & 4

3
3. & 4

44 w
&
4.

4 w
5. & 4

w
4
6. & 4

3
7. & 4
1

w
4

8. & 4
1

4 w
9. & 4
5

w
5

w
4

10. & 4
1

w
4

11. & 4
1

3
12. & 4
1

w
4
14. & 4
5

w
4
13. & 4
5

84
Beyer shows these block chords
without any explanation.

No. 46 uses broken chords in the LH. First practice

the notes in each measure as a block chord.

&

1st and 2nd Endings

1.

Play 1st time only,

then play again from
the repeat sign.

..

1
LH 3
5

2.

Play 2nd time only,

skipping 1st ending.

& 4
F
4
& 4
1

LH legato

&

.
.
&
P
& ..

&
F
&

13

&

1
3
5

Beyer uses first and second endings here, but does

not formally introduce the concept until No 51.

Comodo

46.

1.

w
.. w
2.

..

97

Accent Sign
To accent a note means
to play the note louder
than those before or after.
Accent signs appear over or under a note.

& 38
J
F
3
& 8
3

59.

LH legato

&

13

&

&

>

&

19

26

&

&

>

>

&

Allegretto

&

99
Allegro moderato means moderately fast.
Dolce means sweetly.
Allegro moderato

61.

& 44

.
3

F dolce

? 4
4
5

LH legato

&

.
J

J .

.
J

.
J

.
J

J w

.
J

.
J

.
J

.
J

.
J

.
J

.
J

.
J

&

p
?

13

&

F
?

.
J

J .

.
J

100
In the original edition, Beyer did not use the term staccato on these pages.
He simply described the dot and what it means.

&

Staccato
Staccato means to play the notes
short and detached.

&

A dot over or under a note

means to play staccato.

is played

&
R

is played

The finger that plays the note must be

raised immediately after striking the key.

J
& 43
F
? 43
Allegro moderato
1

62.

J
1

&
J

?
5

J
&

?
9

&
J

13

J
1

8va

&

8va